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"Follow Your Guide Phase II" District B Benevolent Project 2007-2008
Monday March 10, 2008 January 24, 2008 Brethren of Hamilton Masonic District “B”, It’s hard to believe that we have turned the corner and are now on the downside of this Masonic year, and what a year it has been. More importantly, it is the downside of the District “B” Benevolence Program which ends Mar.31, 2008. I am very pleased to report that as of Jan. 22, 2008 the brethren and lodges of District “B” have donated $9000.00 towards the “Follow Your Guide Phase II” program. That’s Dog #5 and half of Dog #6. Hopefully we can bring in the back half of #6 and that would be great! What would be fantastic, in keeping with the motto of R.W.Bro. Robert J. Brooks, “Seven or more make it perfect” would cap a great year. Just think of it, 7 dogs in 2 years. Seven people whose Quality of Life would be improved forever by the Brethren of District “B”. Brethren, this is truly “Brotherly Love” and one of the most important tenets of our fraternity. We thank the brothers and lodges that already donated and will be forever grateful for their generosity. We ask the brethren who are planning to donate but as yet have not, to get their donations in before Mar. 31, 2008 and finish another fantastic year for Hamilton Masonic District “B”. Thank you, District “B” Benevolence Chairman, W.Bro. Robert J. Naylor Follow Your Guide Phase II Brethren, last year’s Benevolence Program for District “B” was an overwhelming success and exceeded everyone’s expectations. We should all feel very proud of our accomplishment. It is not every day we can say that we helped change someone’s life. In fact we changed the lives of four disabled individuals, along their families, giving the recipients the opportunity of having some independence and freedom to live a more normal life! WHAT AN UPLIFTING FEELING! Once again this year we are sponsoring the “Follow Your Guide Phase II” Benevolence Program and like last year, our goal is to provide one dog-guide by raising $6000.00. There are 12 Lodges in District B, so if the Brethren and/or each Lodge can raise $500.00 we will have the funds to provide our fifth dog. Who knows, maybe we’ll do better than that again, and provide our sixth, or even seventh. Would that fit in with our District Deputy Grand Master’s theme “Seven or More Make It Perfect?” Wouldn’t that be fantastic! Thanks to the co-operation of The Hamilton Masonic Districts’ Board of Relief, we will once again be able to issue Tax Receipts to brethren who donate. Cheques should be made payable to the Hamilton Districts’ Masonic Board of Relief. On the memo line put “District B Benevolent Project” and below it the name of the Lodge you wish credited with the donation. Give your donation to your Lodge Benevolent Chairman or your Lodge Secretary. So let’s get behind this program with the enthusiasm we showed last year and make it a success again. I will be visiting the Lodges in District B all year and bringing you updates, and hopefully you will be bringing donations to add to our success. Let’s keep the District buzzzzzzzing! See you in Lodge, W. Bro. Robert Naylor District B Benevolence Chairman
District "B" Dog-Guides Graduate "Opening a Link to the World of Sound" August 30, 2007
Allie with her Special Hearing Dog Guide "Abby"
Allie and her family reside in Waterloo, Ontario.
L to R - Karen, mother, Allie, Katie & Carlie
"ABBY"
Mary with her Special Hearing Dog Guide "Bonnie"
Mary and her family reside in New Hamburg, Ontario. L to R - Corinne, Mary's mother, Scott, Audrey, Mary and her husband Roger "Bonnie"
"Follow Your Guide" District B Benevolent Project 2006-2007 Contributors will be issued an Official Receipt for income tax purposes.
"It gives me more freedom to be capable." Response from a boy who recently received a special skills dog.
District B is A Buzzz You Helped Us Make It Happen
District B has raised $26,000. We will be sponsoring four Dog Guides
One Special Skills Dog Guide $10 000 Two Canine Vision Dog Guides $12 000 One Hearing Ear Dog Guide $ 4 000
"Your generosity opened the door of the world to our four recipients."
Although our campaign ended March 31, 2007, Tax-Deductible Donations will continue to be received.
"If a Lodge does not have a major project as an undertaking that consumes and involves the members, the members have no reason to become involved" G.M. of Alberta, July 2005
May 22, 2007 Brethren, Thank You Brethren! Your response to our 2007 District Benevolence Project, “Follow Your Guide.” has been overwhelming. Your generosity has raised over $26000. Far, far beyond our wildest dreams! Because of you, the lives of four individuals and their families will be touched forever. "Your generosity opened the door of the world to our four recipients."
"It gives me more freedom to be capable." Response from a boy who recently received a special skills dog. Thanks again Brethren. You have made us all so proud to be a member of Hamilton Masonic District B. Sincerely and Fraternally, W.Bro. Robert J. (Bob) Brooks Sr. District Chairman of Benevolence
Follow Your Guide Cheque Presentation Tuesday May 22, 2007
L to R - Steve McDonnell, trainer, Mrs. Bev Berger, National Spokes Person for Dog Guides Canada, Tonia Crittenden, Event and Volunteer Coordinator, Dog Guides Canada waiting for the program to begin.
Mrs. Bev Berger, National Spokes Person for Dog Guides Canada
Cheque Presentation for $26 000 L to R - W.Bro. Bob Brooks, District B Chairman of Benevolence, R.W.Bro. Bob Kerr, Secretary-Treasurer, Hamilton Masonic Board of Relief, Mrs. Bev Berger, National Spokes Person for Dog Guides Canada, Tonia Crittenden, Event and Volunteer Coordinator, Dog Guides Canada, R,W,Bro. Dave Gibson Sr., District Deputy Grand Master, Hamilton Masonic District B.
L to R - W.Bro. Bob Brooks, District B Chairman of Benevolence, R.W.Bro. Bob Kerr, Secretary-Treasurer, Hamilton Masonic Board of Relief, Mrs. Bev Berger, National Spokes Person for Dog Guides Canada, Tonia Crittenden, Event and Volunteer Coordinator, Dog Guides Canada, R,W,Bro. Dave Gibson Sr., District Deputy Grand Master, Hamilton Masonic District B.
District Chairmen for Hamilton Masonic District B posing with the cheque.
District Deputy Visits DogGuides Canada Oakville, Ontario February 12, 2007
L to R - V.W.Bro. Terry Brown, W.Bro. Tom Young, R.W.Bro. David Gibson Sr. our D.D.G.M., W.Bro. Robert (Bob) Brooks Sr.
A Special Need's Dog can be recognized by its Blue Jacket.
Opening a door for its owner.
"I Can't Eat While On Duty"
"Off Duty - Food is Okay"
Gordon Wallen, Manager of Fund-Raising Administration, with his Special Need's Dog.
February 14, 2007 Brethren, It was only three short months ago that I challenged all Lodges in Hamilton District B to participate in our 2007 District Benevolence Project, “Follow Your Guide.” It is my pleasure to announce that the results so far have been outstanding. You, my Brethren, your Lodges, and your friends have been very generous and donated over $18 000. That will be enough for us to donate three dogs, and with another 6 weeks left in our campaign, can we make it 4? The need is very great, especially among young students suffering from many different disabilities. Many of these students want to go to university and college, but are unable to do so until they can get a Dog Guide, which will give them the independence they need. That is where we as Masons can make the difference. Let us not forget our First Degree and the N.E. Angle Lecture? If you have not donated yet, please consider sending in a tax-deductible donation today. Sincerely and Fraternally, W.Bro. Robert J. (Bob) Brooks Sr. District Chairman of Benevolence Important Notice: At the time of writing the letter below, dated October 2, 2006, for our campaign, I mistakenly thought it was the C.N.I.B. that trained seeing-eye dogs. I have since found out that this is not the case, as it clearly states the following on the C.N.I.B. website. "Please note: CNIB provides Orientation and Mobility training to individuals who have experienced vision loss but does not train guide dogs and their handlers. CNIB is not affiliated with any guide dog training schools. For more information on guide dogs, contact one of the North American guide dog organizations." Canine Vision Canada, a Dog Guide training program run by Guide Dogs Canada in Oakville, is on the contact list of guide dog organizations provided by the C.N.I.B. We will therefore direct our donations to Guide Dogs Canada, where they will help train and provide a seeing-eye dog to someone in need. Sorry for the misunderstanding of the reference to the C.N.I.B. on my part. Sincerely and Fraternally, Robert J. Brooks District B Chairman of Benevolence
October 2, 2006 Brethren, District B is challenging all brethren to participate in another major fund-raising project. Last year everyone did so well raising money for the Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund. This year’s project is entitled “Follow Your Guide”. Our intent is to raise enough money to donate at least one Seeing-Eye dog to the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB). The cost is $6000 per dog. Divided among our 12 Lodges, the cost would be $500 each. The project will run from now until the end of March 2007. I ask that each Lodge be creative and raise this amount to help our District B Benevolent Project be successful. The following is a list of facts for our “Follow Your Guide” Project.
Sincerely and Fraternally, W.Bro. Robert J. (Bob) Brooks District B Chairman of Benevolence Donation Tally SheetsFollow Your Guide Tally Sheet Acrobat ReaderFollow Your Guide Tally Sheet Microsoft Word If you do not have Acrobat Reader please visit www.adobe.com to obtain your free copy. District Chairman of Benevolence
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